This study examined the level of heavy metal contamination in the agricultural soils of the Pb-Zn mineralization zone of Ameri, Ameka, Enyigba, and Ishiagu in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Thirty-three soil samples were collected for analysis for the concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu,Cr and Cd, using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) method. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, EC, and TOC were also determined. The study found that the soil pH ranges from 2.0 to 6.93, averaging 4.17. The results of the heavy metals analyzed ranked as follows: Pb > Zn > Cu > Cd > Cr. The study found that the mean concentrations of lead(Pb) in the excavated soils and quarry soils were 65.76 ppm and 57.03 ppm, respectively, which is higher than the control values. The Contamination Factor (CF) results showed moderate to high contamination levels for Pb and Cd. The study also found that the Enrichment Factor (EF) values indicated the level of anthropogenic activities on the environment. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) confirmed that there is a level of deterioration of the soil environment. The research concludes without doubting the level of heavy metal contamination which is very high, and remediation measures should be put in place to save the environment.
Osayande et al. (Thu,) studied this question.